32 Comments

The obesity epidemic in America can be traced back to the overuse of high fructose CORN syrup that permeates our diet. The government controlled school lunch program would be a great way to break the grip of fattening food that our taxes subsidies. Some products available to consumers have had to change because of consumer pressure. More must happen there, but efforts to change school lunch can make a real difference. Great post.

A study was released recently that pointed to the conclusion that corn syrup/high fructose is actually a major cause of obesity. Something in how it interacts with the body tells the body that it is still hungry.

I saw that. That fact just ADDS to the negative affects of corn syrup. But corn is a big easy product of mainly big Agri. breaking that lobby will be enormously difficult. And I can't recall anyone making noise in that regard.

This is just another example of laws being written for the benefit of corporate America, in this case big agri, and to the detriment of the family-owned farm. I know many family-run farms in Vermont are hurting badly.

I remember early in the Occupy movement, meeting two farmers who had come all the from the mid-west to Zucotti/Liberty Park. I was amazed that they had come that far. I asked these two flannel shirt/over-all wearing guys why they were there. Basicaly they said that the family farm is being threated by a governement that sidles up with corporate run farms in writing laws that benefit them, and hurt the little guy.

Being "kept in perpetual debt".... hmmm souds familiar. One of the keys to our success will be making people understand that we all have a common opressor in our plights, and that is a government that is working in complicity with corporate America to our severe detriment. Although we have a long way to go, it is good to see that the 'awakening' is well underway, and I am certain the LIGHT will get brighter as this movement progresses.

read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. Don't miss Main Street and Babbit by Sinclair Lewis. The tell about how the banks and corporate America in general have been using debt and other frauds to do us long before Nixon and Reagan hocked the government to them and returned us to the 'good old days' before FDR slowed the owners down for a spell. So far the investors have only looted the Social Security Trust Fund. They haven't killed it yet. That's how they're planning have the cons who spent the money on Star Wars and privatized mercenary soldiers that capitalists grew richer on and collect interest to boot, default on our retirement.

But the government's not the problem. It's the ruling ellite parasites who own it.

-> civilization is a fraud <- and the rich are the greatest threat the human race has ever faced.

I put hose books on my reading list, but right now though, it's Death of The Liberal Class, followed by the Wisdom of The Elders.

"The ruling elite parasites" own the politicians, hence the government, so denouncing both for our screwed-up state of affairs we have is fair game, and necessary.

Let me ask you: What do you think that we will need to do to achieve victory. My thoughts lie in the examples of Iceland, Montreal, and Sweden in the early 20th century, which means, people eventually have to get in the streets, and demand change.

If we're going to achieve victory, a critical mass of the population must be awakened to the threat. Until then there's not much to do except keep on gettin' out the word.

I tell my children to hope for the best and prepare for the worst. The chief problem is an ecomomy that works for the 1% and the overseers, sellouts, sycophants and wannabes, who amount to 8 or 15% more.

The economy as it is, a hierarchy of debt bondage, can't be fixed. It must be overthrown and replaced with a real economy that provides the stuff of life and more for the entire population. There's a good chance that will never happen.

Prepare for the worst by establishing small, self sufficient communities on unmortgaged land with like minded people. Each one can be an economic cell and model for the new paradigm. If the ruling elite don't fall, at least you'll have a chance to survive.

And yes, the current set of politicians and judges are a bad government. But it's not about the form or size of the beast. It's about the demons that possess it.

All of the movements, from anti war to anti citizens united are on the right path. but deeper understanding of our corrupt and dysfunctional civilization and culture are needed to light the way to the truth.

Much like Chris Hedges, your analysis is very sobering, but I agree with it, all of it. The "deeper understanding" is important because although many people are suffering, they still do not understand how inter-locked our plights are, and that we have a common oppressor, the corrupt elite. Thanks, you're an excellent addition to this forum.

There're are glimmers of hope. City farms distributed on vacant lots in Detroit and other cities blighted by outsourcing traitors.

Worker owned factories and coops are at an all time high. When there's a factory that has farm, hospital, alternate power source and is owned democratically by the employees with no more than 3 to 1 difference from entry level to CEO salary ...

Well, I hope I live so long. For now your kind words are encouraging. Thank You!

Yeah, I got that same border-line type of humor. So you're hard-headed too. Then you know that can be an asset, and sometimes not. lol I wished that I were old enough, and had the interest to have asked my Swedish born (1912) Dad about the tumultuous times in Sweden, when the people wrested control of their country away from the oligarchs. The people in Iceland too were on the stick, eh? Anyway, I am a firm believer in the fact that you can learn from history.

wow,,,here's something that will blow your mind,,,,"click on my screen name",,,youll find out i first started using "iamsoandso" in dec. of 2012, but you on the other hand started using "dkatoday" in oct. of 2012,,,,,,

now see lets figure so_and_so,,,,,minus dk?,,,,,strange math no?,,,,no one is "iamsoandso",,,,,,,in the order,,first,"iamalsoows",then "iamonetwo"(but i beg to differ),,,,then someone who called themselves,,,,,,"so_and_so",,,,,,,seemed to take prevalence. ,,,

i thought them to be thieves at first,for they said they were me. well i was "iamsoandso" somewhere around 7 years before ows,,,,so you see i was captive in the matter.,,,that is at first i mas a really "mad librarian",,,

well as time went on i came to ows and at first i defended mine own screen- name,,,,many of you sent emails to iamsoandso,,,,well i deleted them as if they were spam.

i think it is now fitting now that is,,,,,,,,,,,,in the beginning you thought i was your leader,,and none of you would do the thing i said. well you crumbled for it.,,,now in the end the same the one you named nothing speaks and none hear.

you should have remained nonviolent,,you should have welcomed the police,you should have given the rights you demanded.,,,,so_and_so,,,,,,,,,,,you have rejected so_and_so,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,here is your demise,,,,,,,,,,"iamsoandso",,,,,,,,,,,,,
↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink

???? what been on the forum for over a year? Forgive me if that does nothing for how I regard you . . . um . . . creepy. How many times you been booted? Hardly seems fair that you should consider your time as unbroken - comprende?

[-] 0 points by iamsoandso (17) 0 minutes ago

and you are from the same day as us ?and did not know it?
↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink

no i am a guitarist and she is a pianist,,,,,,,,,,,i love music,it is a break from the madness. and if you have never heard "maple leaf rag' Google it,,,hear it and stand full of heart. it is rather a deeper respect,,,,,,,,me and g.f. beg to differ a bunch but at the same time me her zen dog ect.,,,,,,,,,,,,,jart? are from the beginning,,,,,,,,,,,,,we will never part. we will differ,we will save,,,,you at times may need to hate a few things to love a few enough to fight to the death beside each other,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,for the others,,,,,,
↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink

Farm Bill Fails in the House
House Bill Was Flawed, But Showed Promise for Healthy Food,

It's hard to believe, but last week, the House failed to pass their version of the Farm Bill. The Senate already passed a (better) version in May, and the House needed to pass their version in order to move ahead with a finalized Farm Bill. The House version had many flaws, but passing a Farm Bill was crucial to shifting priorities towards healthy food rather than relying on the status quo subsidies for ingredients used in unhealthy, processed foods.

While no one is sure what happens next with the Farm Bill, I want to say something important:

Thank you.

Thanks to your ongoing emails and phone calls, we saw some significant progress in the Farm Bill that couldn't have happened without you. For example, Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME) introduced a strong bipartisan amendment that would have shifted priorities to local and healthy food. While the amendment didn't make it into the bill, it's still a big victory: the equal support from Democrats and Republicans showcased that local and healthy food is gaining broad, bipartisan support throughout Congress.

Likewise, a historic amendment on reforming subsidies in the Farm Bill was passed and included in the ill-fated House bill. The amendment, introduced by Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), was the first successful vote in the House to restore common-sense limits and close loopholes on farm subsidies—and it was a strong bipartisan win.

Overall, we're making headway despite this roadblock—and now, we're going to keep working! Congress has until September 30 when the current Farm Bill extension expires. We're counting down the days, hours, and even seconds until September 30, and we'll be counting on you to keep up the fight.

While we wait for Congress to make its next steps on the Farm Bill, you can bet that we'll keep you in the loop. We're going to keep working with you to shift priorities to local and healthy food for all in the Farm Bill. Stay tuned, and stick with us!
Sincerely,

The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

Our government is currently paying farmers to grow virtually the opposite of what it recommends that Americans eat—including billions to subsidize items such as corn syrup that go into processed food. Not only do these policies undermine our health, they damage our air, soil, and water.

Months ago, Congress missed a big deadline. They patched over their mistake with some half-measures that don't really work. Now they have a chance to fix their mistakes properly — but it's far from guaranteed that they'll do the right thing.

The particular mistake I'm talking about is the Farm Bill. You probably know that the Farm Bill is a massive, critically important bill that affects almost every aspect of the food we eat and the livelihoods of our farmers. It also funds safety-net nutrition programs like food stamps. The Farm Bill is vast, complex, and has the potential to protect family farmers and organic food, and to keep factory farms in check. Tell your legislators how much this matters: they need to get the Farm Bill right.

Last year's Farm Bill was a casualty of the "fiscal cliff" debacle. Rather than pass a new, five-year bill, Congress extended a stripped-down version of the old bill, one that removed many of the programs we care most about. We lost programs that support small farmers when they're just starting out, lost funding for conservation programs, and missed a big opportunity to add new rules that protect our food.

Food & Water Watch is a consumer advocacy nonprofit that challenges the corporate control of our food and water. We empower people to take action and transform the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.